Button



July 16, 1940. R METZGER 2,207,698

BUTTON Filed May 26, 1959 INVENTOR (die/0 Wefgye/Z ATTOIRNEY Patented July 16, 1940 v 1 UNITED STATES PATENT rricE BUTTON Richard Metzger, New York, N. Y., assignor to Leo H. Hirsch & 00., New York, N. Y., a partnership composed of Leo H. Hirsch and Lionel Goldfrank Application May 26, 1939, Serial No. 275,783

2 Claims.

made of disks of natural pearl shell, either fresh water or ocean. Because of the frangible, laminar, irresilient character of pearl, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in securely fastening the shank to the head.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a pearl button having a shank of simple and inexpensive construction which is securely attached to the head in such manner as to withstand disconnection by direct pull or by twisting movement.

The shank is made of wire formed in U-shape and attached to the button-head at two separated points. I have found in practice that the shank and head of a button constructed according to my invention are secured together so firmly' that it is impossible to disconnect the shank either by direct pull or by a twisting movement without breaking or damaging the pearl head.

The present invention is especially directed to the construction on a high production basis of pearl buttons or the like. By reason of the brittle nature of the material, it is impossible to undercut it at a steep or wide angle as such drilling would weaken and break the material. It is also difficult to cut or ream the pearl for the reception of a shank having screw threads or the like .on its exterior surface. Where bell shanks have been used, it has been necessary to undercut the pearl and to tap the shank in by hand, resulting in a low rate of production.

The above and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a button embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the button head and shank, prior to assembly, the head being shown in. section; and

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the button and shank after assembly.

The button comprises a head I0 made of a disk of shell pearl, either fresh water or ocean, having two holes II and i2 drilled therein, which holes are relatively widely spaced to provide sufficient material between them for strength. These holes are not drilled all the way through the disk and are arranged at a slight angle to each other as shownin Fig. 2, the angle being only a few degrees off perpendicular. The two holes in the button disk may be drilled in a single operation on a multiple hole drilling machine. The holes are of slightly smaller diameter than that of the wire of the shank I3 so that the legs of the shank will fit tightly in the holes. I have found that a difference in diameter of .0025 of an inch is sufiicient.

The shank I3 is preferably made of a semihard tempered wire and is bent in substantially U-shape having two legs M- and I 5 which are arranged either in parallel or in slightly diverging relation. The lower ends of the legs [4 and I5 are spaced apart the same distance as the entrances to the holes II and I2 in the disk so that I they will be in aligned relation when being assembled. I

The shank members l3 may be simply and inexpensively cut and formed by means of suitable dies in a single operation from a continuous spool of wire. The forming dies may also serve to to guide the shanks in proper relation to the holes in the head during assembly of the parts.

Upon assembly, it will be noted that the legs l4 and I5 will be forced into the divergently inclined holes II and I2 and that their lower ends will be directed slightly out of line with the axis of the legs. The shank is thereby held to the head l0 not only by frictional engagement but also by the slight spread of the lower ends of the legs. v

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive construction for easily attaching and durably securing the shank to the button head or disk. While the invention is particularly adapted to the manufacture of shell pearl buttons, it w may be employed in the construction of buttons of other similar material.

What I claim is:

1. A pearl button comprising a head having two spaced apart apertures extending part way therethrough at a slightly divergent angle to each other, and a substantially U-shaped wire shank having two legs the lower end portions of which are secured with a driving fit in, said diverging apertures and extend slightly out of line with the longitudinal axes of the legs.

2. A pearl button comprising a disk-like head having two spaced apart apertures extending from one surface part way through the head at a slightly divergent angle to each other, and a U-shaped wire shank having two substantially parallel legs the lower end portions of which are secured with a driving fit in said diverging apertures and extend slightly out 01 line with the longitudinal axes of the legs.

, RICHARD ME'I'ZGER. 

